A phased array-based method for damage detection and localization in thin plates

A method for damage localization based on the phased array idea has been developed. Four arrays oftransducers are used to perform a beam-forming procedure. Each array consists of nine transducersplaced along a line, which are able to excite and register elastic waves. The A0 Lamb wave mode hasbeen chosen for the localization method. The arrays are placed in such a way that the angulardifference between them is 458 and the rotation point is the middle transducer, which is common for allthe arrays. The idea has been tested on a square aluminium plate modeled by the Spectral Element Method. Two types of damage were considered, namely distributed damage, which was modeled asstiffness reduction, and cracks, modeled as separation of nodes between selected spectral elements.The plate is excited by a wave packet. The whole array system is placed in the middle of the plate.Each linear phased array in the system acts independently and produces maps of a scanned fieldbased on the beam-forming procedure. These maps are made of time signals (transferred to spacedomain) that represent the difference between the damaged plate signals and those from the intactplate. An algorithm was developed to join all four maps. The final map is modified by proposed signal processing algorithm to indicate the damaged area of the plate more precisely. The problem fordamage localization was investigated and exemplary maps confirming the effectiveness of theproposed system were obtained. It was also shown that the response of the introduced configurationremoves the ambiguity of damage localization normally present when a linear phased array is utilized.The investigation is based exclusively on numerical data

Titration of syntaxin1 in Mammalian synapses reveals multiple roles in vesicle docking, priming, and release probability.

Synaptic vesicles undergo sequential steps in preparation for neurotransmitter release. Individual SNARE proteins and the SNARE complex itself have been implicated in these processes. However, discrete effects of SNARE proteins on synaptic function have been difficult to assess using complete loss-of-function approaches. We therefore used a genetic titration technique in cultured mouse hippocampal neurons to evaluate the contribution of the neuronal SNARE protein Syntaxin1 (Stx1) in vesicle docking, priming, and release probability. We generated graded reductions of total Stx1 levels by combining two approaches, namely, endogenous hypomorphic expression of the isoform Stx1B and RNAi-mediated knockdown. Proximity of synaptic vesicles to the active zone was not strongly affected. However, overall release efficiency of affected neurons was severely impaired, as demonstrated by a smaller readily releasable pool size, slower refilling rate of primed vesicles, and lower release probability. Interestingly, dose-response fitting of Stx1 levels against readily releasable pool size and vesicular release probability showed similar Kd (dissociation constant) values at 18% and 19% of wild-type Stx1, with cooperativity estimates of 3.4 and 2.5, respectively. This strongly suggests that priming and vesicle fusion share the same molecular stoichiometry, and are governed by highly related mechanisms

The architecture of protein synthesis in the developing neocortex at near-atomic resolution reveals Ebp1-mediated neuronal proteostasis at the 60S tunnel exit

Protein synthesis must be finely tuned in the nervous system, as it represents an essential feature of neurodevelopmental gene expression, and dominant pathology in neurological disease. However, the architecture of ribosomal complexes in the developing mammalian brain has not been analyzed at high resolution. This study investigates the architecture of ribosomes ex vivo from the embryonic and perinatal mouse neocortex, revealing Ebp1 as a 60S peptide tunnel exit binding factor at near-atomic resolution by multiparticle cryo-electron microscopy. The impact of Ebp1 on the neuronal proteome was analyzed by pSILAC and BONCAT coupled mass spectrometry, implicating Ebp1 in neurite outgrowth proteostasis, with in vivo embryonic Ebp1 knockdown resulting in dysregulation of neurite outgrowth. Our findings reveal Ebp1 as a central component of neocortical protein synthesis, and the 60S peptide tunnel exit as a focal point of gene expression control in the molecular specification of neuronal morphology

Timed global reorganization of protein synthesis during neocortex neurogenesis at codon resolution

Translation modulates the timing and amplification of gene expression after transcription. Development of the brain’s neocortex requires precisely timed and spatially targeted gene expression, but the relationship between mRNA vs. protein synthesis throughout the genome is unknown. We perform a comprehensive analysis of the reactants, synthesis, and products of mRNA translation spanning mouse neocortex neurogenesis. Ribosome number in the cortical plate decreases sharply at mid-neurogenesis during a transition in neuronal subtype specification, shifting the fundamental kinetics of protein synthesis, with mRNA and protein levels frequently divergent. Satb2, which drives an essential neuronal subtype-specific program, is a highly dynamically translated mRNA with surprisingly broad transcription across diverse neuronal lineages. Satb2 protein achieves its neuronal subtype expression through timed regulation by the RNA-binding protein Pumilio2. Thus, the refinement of transcriptional programs by protein synthesis is a widespread feature of neuronal specification. Developmental neocortex translatome data are provided in an open-source resource: https://shiny.mdc-berlin.de/cortexomics/

A critical period of translational control during brain development at codon resolution

Translation modulates the timing and amplification of gene expression after transcription. Brain development requires uniquely complex gene expression patterns, but large-scale measurements of translation directly in the prenatal brain are lacking. We measure the reactants, synthesis and products of mRNA translation spanning mouse neocortex neurogenesis, and discover a transient window of dynamic regulation at mid-gestation. Timed translation upregulation of chromatin-binding proteins like Satb2, which is essential for neuronal subtype differentiation, restricts protein expression in neuronal lineages despite broad transcriptional priming in progenitors. In contrast, translation downregulation of ribosomal proteins sharply decreases ribosome biogenesis, coinciding with a major shift in protein synthesis dynamics at mid-gestation. Changing activity of eIF4EBP1, a direct inhibitor of ribosome biogenesis, is concurrent with ribosome downregulation and affects neurogenesis of the Satb2 lineage. Thus, the molecular logic of brain development includes the refinement of transcriptional programs by translation. Modeling of the developmental neocortex translatome is provided as an open-source searchable resource at https://shiny.mdc-berlin.de/cortexomics

Układ fazowy przetworników w lokalizacji uszkodzeń z wykorzystaniem metody propagacji fal sprężystych

In this paper, a problem of piezoelectric transducers used for damage localisation in an aluminium plate is investigated. Waves propagate in a specimen and reflect from boundaries and from discontinuities. Because damage reflected signals very often have a low amplitude, a phased array concept is utilized to amplify the signal. The amplification is based on the wave interference phenomenon. The star configuration consists of four linear phased arrays. As a result, a damage map is created combining four outputs of linear phased arrays. Several configurations with a varying number of transducers are investigated. The resulting damage maps are compared so as to balance the number of transducers and the possibility of flaw localisation using these maps. The presented investigation has only a numerical character.W artykule przedstawiono propozycję użycia przetworników piezoelektrycznych oraz metody propagacji fal sprężystych do lokalizacji uszkodzeń w cienkich płytach wykonanych ze stopu aluminium. Generowane fale sprężyste za pośrenictwem przetworników piezoelektrycznych, propagując w płycie, odbijają się od jej krawędzi oraz wszelkich nieciągłości. Ze względu na małe wartości amplitud fal odbitych od nieciągłości zaproponowano użycie układu fazowego przetworników do wzmocnienia sygnałów fal odbitych. Układy fazowe wykorzystują zjawisko interferencji fal sprężystych. Zaproponowana została konfiguracja przetworników wykorzystująca cztery liniowe układy fazowe. Mapa uszkodzeń tworzona jest poprzez połączenie map składowych otrzymanych dla poszczególnych układów liniowych. Dokonano również analizy wpływu ilości przetworników piezoelektrycznych na wyniki lokalizacji uszkodzeń. Przeprowadzone badania mają charakter wyłącznie numeryczny

Principles of piezo-based machinery health monitoring

In this paper methods used for structural health monitoring of machinery parts are discussed. These methods are based on applications of piezoelectric transducers. Proposed methods are used for assessment of structural machine parts manufactured of carbon fiber reinforced plastics/polymers (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced plastics/polymers (GFRP). The first discussed method is based on elastic wave propagation and scanning laser vibrometry. This method is based on the fact that any kind of structural discontinuities cause changes in elastic wave propagation within the structure. In the proposed approach elastic waves are generated using piezoelectric transducer and then the waves are registered using scanning laser vibrometer. Here attention was paid on an analysis of elastic wave propagation in simple composite parts and parts with complex structure. The paper presents also results of simulated damage localization. The second method is an electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique. In this case piezoelectric transducer is also effectively used. This transducer is attached to an investigated structure. Due to electromechanical coupling of piezoelectric transducer and a structure, characteristics of mechanical resonances of the structure can be registered through the measurement of electrical parameters of piezoelectric transducer. An initiation of damage causes changes in resonant characteristics of considered structures. As electrical parameter very often impedance, admittance, resistance, conductance or reactance are used. For that purpose electrical impedance analyzer is used. Three parameters have been taken for the analysis. For proposed method effective damage indexes have been proposed

Multi-phased array for damage localisation

A method for damage localisation has been developed, which is based on the phased array idea. Four arrays of transducers, instead of only one, are used to perform a beam-forming procedure. Each array consists of nine transducers placed along a line, which are able to excite and register elastic waves. The arrays are placed in such a way that the angular difference between them is 45º and the rotation point is the middle transducer, which is common for all the arrays. The idea has been tested on a square aluminium plate modelled by the Spectral Finite Element Method. Two types of damage were considered, namely distributed damage, which was modelled as stiffness reduction, and cracks, modelled as separation of nodes in selected finite elements. The plate is excited by a wave packet (5-cycle sine modulated by the Hanning window). The whole array system is placed in the middle of the plate. Each phase array in the system acts independently and produces maps of a scanned field based on the beam-forming procedure. These maps are made of signals that represent the difference between the damaged plate signals and those from the intact plate. An algorithm was developed to join all four maps. This procedure eliminates the necessity to analyse each map individually and also gives the possibility to extract common features only. It allows to remove ambiguity and helps to localise damage more precisely than in the case of a single map. The problem for damage localisation was investigated and exemplary maps confirming the effectiveness of the system proposed were obtained. The investigation is based exclusively on numerical data

Damage Detection in Wind Turbine Blade Panels Using Three Different SHM Techniques

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